The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an emergency order suspending the use of dimethyltetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), a pesticide also known as Dacthal. This is the first time in nearly 40 years that the EPA has taken such an emergency action.
As of August 7, DCPA may no longer be sold, distributed, or used in any way, and current inventory of the product may no longer be used.
According to Brett Bultemeier, an assistant professor in the University of Florida’s Department of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Dacthal is a pesticide used to control weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural settings, including lawns. It is primarily used on agricultural crops such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions.
According to the EPA, Amvac Chemical Corp. is the sole manufacturer of DCPA. Bultemeier identified the following products affected by the emergency order:
- Flowable herbicide Dacthal (EPA Reg. No. 5481-487).
- Herbicide Dacthal W-75 (EPA Reg. No. WI050002).
- Technical grade chlorothaldimethyl (EPA Reg. No. 54851-495).
“DCPA is so dangerous that it must be removed from the market immediately,” said Michael Freedhoff, deputy director of the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “EPA’s job is to protect people from exposure to dangerous chemicals. In this case, pregnant women who may never have known they were exposed could give birth to babies who suffer lifelong, irreversible health problems. That’s why EPA is using its emergency suspension authority to stop the use of a pesticide for the first time in nearly 40 years.”
